Over the past weekend, 22 recruits, both committed and uncommitted, came to Ypsilanti for their official visit to Eastern Michigan. While most were dreaming about their first crack at Division-I football, Cody Tuttle was looking for a second chance.
Pleased to announce my commitment to play football for Eastern Michigan University Football. #GoEagles #EMUFB pic.twitter.com/qcpIgGPjAd
— Cody Tuttle WR#8 (@codytuttleWR_8) December 6, 2014
Transferring from Moorpark College (JUCO) in California, Tuttle will make another transfer, this time to Eastern Michigan. Out of Westlake HS in California (c/o 2012), this wide receiver had drawn interests and offers from schools like Nebraska, TCU, Syracuse, UCLA, Oregon State, New Mexico State, Air Force and Western Michigan, Tuttle decided to go to Nevada.
"The year they recruited me was the year after Collin Kaepernick had been there and brought them up to #11 in the country," Tuttle told Hustle Belt. "I was obviously interested in playing for a big, top-tier team."
A coaching change and other personal issues led to Tuttle transferring somewhere closer to home after spending a year and a half in Nevada. Listed as a tight end for Moorpark College in the California Community College Athletic Association, Tuttle's offensive contributions led to him winning a team MVP award.
The receiving corps has been all but impressive for the Eagles in 2014. Sometimes when you find a player at the JUCO level that could help the team out in a big way the very next year, you just have to go all-in.
"They were very aggressive in the recruiting process," Tuttle said, reflecting on his first reactions with the EMU staff. He said that he would start talking to the coaches right away, OC Kalen DeBoer met up with him in the middle of the season and picked a date for his official visit.
"I really, really like the staff there. I think they're a good group of coaches: a good group of guys. They're gonna turn that program around, and that's something I'm really interested in being a part of.
Moorpark stats
Games | Rec. | Yards | TD | Yards/Catch | Rec./Game |
9 | 52 | 655 | 8 | 12.6 | 5.8 |
Tuttle noted that the biggest thing for him while going through his recruiting process was to go somewhere where he could make an immediate impact and be able to "establish great relationships with my coaches and teammates."
"It was tough coming back and playing junior college ball, but I think it was a great decision because at the end of the day I'm going to a great place filled with great people."
So why does EMU's offensive coordinator want this 6-foot-4, 230-pound receiver so badly? Check out his highlight video courtesy of Hudl: